13/08/2024
*IFS ready to support govt for starting IVF services for poor & needy*.
The Indian Fertility Society (IFS) is committed to supporting the Jammu & Kashmir government in establishing IVF services in the public sector for underprivileged couples struggling with infertility. This commitment was highlighted during the recent Women’s Reproductive Health Camp held at CHC Hajin, Bandipora, part of the IFS’s “Sanjivini” pilot project aimed at enhancing women’s reproductive health across India.
The camp, inaugurated by Ex-officio Secretary to Government and Director of SKIMS, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganai, saw significant participation from senior officials including Sr. KAS Officer & Additional Director SKIMS Dr. Firdous Ahmed Giri, and Dr. Syed Sajjad Hussain Add. Joint Secretary of IFS and Patron of the IFS Kashmir Chapter. Other dignitaries included Medical Superintendent SKIMS Dr. Farooq Ahmed Jan, Head of Community Medicine SKIMS Prof. Rauf ur Rashid Koul, and District Officer Bandipora Dr. Rehana Gulzar.
Over 250 health workers, ASHA workers, and doctors from various government facilities in Bandipora, alongside approximately 170 infertile couples from remote areas, attended the camp. The IFS distributed Urdu flip charts on critical topics such as menstrual hygiene, breast and cervical cancer awareness, PCOS, and fertility myths. Dr. Syed Sajjad Hussain also presented the Indian ART & Surrogacy Act 2021 guidelines to Dr. Rehana Gulzar.
Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganai praised the IFS's efforts and assured full support from the J&K government and SKIMS to continue these initiatives and explore the establishment of IVF services. Dr. Firdous Ahmed Giri commended the IFS’s recent academic camps, particularly their focus on rural populations.
Dr. Syed Sajjad Hussain reaffirmed IFS's readiness to support the introduction of IVF services in the government sector, emphasizing the transformative potential of such initiatives through enhanced knowledge and training for healthcare workers. Medical Superintendent Dr. Farooq Ahmed Jan and Prof. Rauf ur Rashid Koul also lauded the IFS’s efforts, noting their significant impact on public awareness and healthcare practices.
The event included a patient consultation session at PHC Hajin’s OPD, where around 230 patients, including 170 infertile couples, were examined. IFS doctors ensured that all patients received consultations before the camp concluded. The camp was covered live by various media channels, showcasing interviews with Dr. Syed Sajjad Hussain and other key participants.